Medical Reports: High-Def Help

WSVN -- First television went high-def, now the technology could actually save lives.

Rebecca Kordsmeier's life was turned upside-down years ago when her mother complained of severe stomach pain.

Rebecca Kordsmeier, Had Colonoscopy in HD: "That evening she was admitted to the hospital, and she was diagnosed with colon cancer a couple of days later."

A few weeks later she died at the age of 58.

Dr. David Weiss, Gastroenterologist, Memorial Hospital West: "I always say colorectal cancer is an equal opportunity offender, it gets men and women pretty close to equally."

Dr. David Weiss says there is some encouraging news when it comes to this type of cancer.

Dr. David Weiss: "It's both preventable and curable, so early detection is really the key for colorectal cancer."

Doctors at Memorial Hospital West are using a new tool to catch trouble spots early during colonoscopies. They're using high-definition scopes.

Dr. David Weiss: "It's a computer chip that's in the scope. It's a high-definition chip as well as a high-definition monitor and you basically get better detail as you do on your regular TV."

During a colonoscopy, the patient is screened for polyps pre-cancerous growths inside the colon which are then removed. The new enhanced images allow doctors to see polyps as tiny as one millimeter in size!

Dr. David Weiss: "I think it makes it easier to see the smaller polyps. There are certainly some of the flat polyps we may have read about over the past years, which may be more suspicious for developing colon cancer making it easier to see."

During Rebecca's first colonoscopy they found five polyps. Her next screening test was done in HD.

Rebecca Kordsmeier: "He actually found four more abnormalities he said could not possibly have grown in 5 years."

With her family history, she makes sure she gets screened every five years so she can continue to enjoy family vacations, even though one very special person is missing.

Rebecca Kordsmeier: "I think my mother would be alive today if she had the technology."

Dr. Weiss says most people should get their first colonoscopy at age 50. If you are not at high risk or have symptoms you can be screened every 10 years.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dr. David Weiss
11011 Sheridan Street, Suite 109
Hollywood, FL 33026
Tel: (954) 431-7724
www.mhs.net